More than half of Welsh teenagers believe their lives will be worse than their parents

“It feels like a dog-eat-dog world”

Broken Promise: Welsh teenagers believe their lives will be worse than their parents 

• New polling reveals 58% of Welsh teenagers fear they will be worse off than their parents.
• More than a third are also worried for their future children.
• Young adult carer Dylan Thomas, 20, felt similarly hopeless until he found the right support.

Most Welsh teenagers believe they will have a worse life than their parents due to fears about money, the environment and unemployment, according to new polling data released today.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s and YouGov asked 225 Welsh teenagers aged 14 to 17 to imagine their lives at the age of 30.

Results show that 9% said they felt “hopeless” about their future, whilst 58% believed their lives would be worse than that of the previous generation. More than a third (39%) thought their own children’s lives would not be any better.

One teenage respondent said: “Everyone is struggling these days. My mum struggles to pay the bills and she’s a nurse with a master’s degree. I’m not that clever, so imagine my life will be harder than hers.”

Almost a quarter (22%) of respondents believed they wouldn’t have enough money to live comfortably when they reached 30.

Worryingly, 12% of respondents also believed they were unable to change their own future.

One respondent said: “My older brothers worked hard and got great qualifications and cannot get good jobs in the UK, so I think it will be the same for me.”

Sarah Crawley, Director of Barnardo’s Cymru, said: “Is this really the future we want for children throughout Wales?

“No child or young person should feel like the odds are stacked against them, or like the world isn’t changing for the better, but it’s clear from these worrying statistics that many children feel powerless.

“Rather than anticipating an exciting and fulfilling future filled with opportunities, instead they face insurmountable challenges which are not of their own making.

“It’s distressing to know that a generation of Welsh children believe they will have a life worse than that of their parents.”

The polling was released to coincide with a new report from Barnardo’s – Changing Childhoods, Changing Lives – which paints a bleak picture of children’s lives in the UK.

The report assesses the current situation for children and how crises such as cost of living, COVID-19, and environmental concerns are impacting them in 2024. There are also forecasts for how things might develop in the future – including a downward spiralling of children’s mental health, increased risk of online exploitation, and a rising number of children in care.

“It feels like a dog-eat-dog world”

Dylan Thomas, 20, from Newport, South Wales, has been supported by Barnardo’s Newport Young Carers service since the age of 10. Dylan took on caring responsibilities for his father, who had multiple health issues, and sadly passed away at the end of last year.

Dylan is now part of a young adult carers group, and keen to raise awareness about the pressures young people are under.

Reflecting on the polling results, he said: “It feels like a dog-eat-dog world where the rich are getting richer, and the poor can’t move up. Young people see a world where we have the war in Ukraine, the housing crisis, a world where people are judged on social media for their looks, not what they can bring to the table. We seem to have lost sight of what’s important.”

He is grateful for the support he received from Newport Young Carers, including opportunities to talk one to one with a support worker, take part in weekly sports sessions and go on respite trips: “100 per cent it helped me, and now through Young Adult Carers, I hope I can start having an impact on the younger generation of young carers. I’m already planning to visit my old primary school to raise awareness.”

Dylan’s caring responsibilities took their toll on his schooling, and he sometimes fell asleep in class or was unable to attend for weeks at a time. “I don’t want other young people to go through what I did without support,” he said.

The key for him was securing a job at Cardiff and Vale College where he has worked for just over two years, firstly managing the canteen and now a retail shop on campus.

“It has given me stability to fully start living and thriving. I come home feeling like I’ve done a good job. It’s really difficult for young people when they apply for jobs only to find that experience is needed, and they have no way of getting that. Not having a job and a purpose takes a massive toll on your mental health,” he said.

Barnardo’s say they are determined that children will not face future challenges alone and know the current situation requires urgent action.

Today they are launching a new three-year strategy to tackle the crisis head on – focussing on key areas of support to ensure that children’s futures are not defined by the legacy of COVID-19 and the cost-of-living crisis.

Barnardo’s has also worked with young people to develop a new look for the charity – one that stands out and feels relevant to the children, young people and families who need them.

Sarah Crawley added: “Last year, Barnardo’s supported more than 373,000 children, young people, parents and carers across the UK.

Barnardo’s Cymru is embedded in communities across Wales, working with children to address the issues affecting their lives. It’s our job to make the world better for our children, and we hope the Welsh Government will continue to work with us and recognise the long-term effects of poverty, poor mental wellbeing, and a lack of meaningful opportunities for young people.

“We want to ensure that young people have a seat at the table and can fulfil their potential before it’s too late.”